Is it OK to prune my 'Pink Knock Out' roses now?

By Kathy Huber |
April 12, 2008

Q: Last summer I planted several "Pink Knock Out" roses, and I've been thrilled with their performance. They bloomed all through the winter and are still going. They got a little leggy and have lots of rose hips on them. Can I prune them back to regain a better bush shape, or will I be cutting off future blooms if I do that? Is there anything good you can do with the rose hips? B.P., Houston

A: Yes, you can trim the bushes. They grow so fast, they'll flower again before too long. There are several ways to use rose hips. You'll find recipes for jelly, bread, tea and other dishes in herb books and on the Internet.